Stefano Boeri Architetti is bringing the vertical forest concept popularized in Milan to Nanjing, China with the Nanjing Towers . The two green towers could provide the city with a breath of fresh air, producing around 132 pounds of oxygen every day as they absorb carbon dioxide. They’ll accomplish this air-cleaning feat with 1,100 flourishing trees from 23 local species and 2,500 cascading shrubs and plants . The two towers at 656 feet and 354 feet tall will rise above the Nanjing Pukou District, which Stefano Boeri Architetti’s press release describes as an area that will likely lead modernization efforts in the south of China’s Jiangsu province and help develop a Yangtze River economic zone. Nanjing Yang Zi State-owned Investment Group Company Limited is promoting the towers and is listed by Stefano Boeri Architetti as an investor in the project. Related: Vertical forest Mountain Hotel will clean the air in Guizhou, China The taller tower will hold offices, a museum, a green architecture school, and a rooftop club. The second tower will host a 247-room Hyatt hotel and rooftop swimming pool. A podium 65 feet high will include shops, restaurants, and a conference hall. Balconies on the buildings will allow inhabitants to get up close to the nature thriving on the building facades. 600 tall trees and 500 medium-sized trees will grow on the towers, and Stefano Boeri Architetti says the trees and cascading plants will help regenerate biodiversity in the area. Not only will the green towers be the first in China, but in all of Asia . And they probably won’t be the last – the ambitious architecture firm aims to design vertical forests in Shanghai, Guizhou, Shijiazhuang, Liuzhou, and Chongqing. Stefano Boeri Architetti aims to continue to popularize the concept with a book edited by their China office and published by Tongji University Press, A Forest City . The book is scheduled to come out in April. The Nanjing Towers are slated for completion in 2018. + Stefano Boeri Architetti Images courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti

Comments Off on Vertical forest Mountain Hotel will clean the air in Guizhou, China

The Milan-based design firm made headlines with Bosco Verticale, the world’s first vertical forest built right in the company’s hometown. A few years later, the firm’s design for a second green skyscraper won a competition to add an eco-friendly building in Lausanne, Switzerland, which will break ground next year. The Mountain Hotel will be built in Guizhou, China for the Hong Kong-based Cachet Hotel Group, and the design follows the same principles as their previous projects, with a focus on sustainable architecture and a green facade that can improve the quality of the air around it. Related: World’s second vertical forest will rise in Switzerland SBA will design the building as a vertical ‘forest mountain’ in the Wanfenglin region, which is also known as the Forest of Ten Thousands Peaks. Local artist Simon Ma will provide the interior design for the 250-room hotel which will offer amenities including a gym, lounge, VIP area, bar, restaurant, and conference facilities. The New York Times named China’s Guizhou region on its list of “52 Places to Go in 2016,” predicting an increase in tourist traffic there. The forested area was largely inaccessible until 2014, when the government opened a $20 billion high-speed railway that cut the travel time from the nearest major city from 20 hours down to four. Tour activities and new hotels are sprouting up throughout the area, but certainly none are as likely to improve the local environment as much as the Mountain Hotel. + Stefano Boeri Architetti Images via Stefano Boeri Architetti

Comments Off on MIT researchers create a "second skin" that could make you look younger

As we age , our skin loses elasticity and moisture. It’s a natural process that happens to everyone, but ten years ago a team of researchers decided to see if they could change that. They set out to design a coating that could revitalize skin, making it healthier . Now they are announcing successful experiments of this ” second skin ” that appears to give wearers a youthful appearance. Led by biomedical engineer Robert Langer of MIT , the team included researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital , beauty company Living Proof , and Olivo Labs . Their second skin, made of ” a silicone-based polymer ,” creates a breathable layer on skin, keeping in moisture and appearing to smooth and tighten skin. The team tested their coating on areas of the body such as under eye bags, legs, and forearms . The invisible, wearable coating can last for around 24 hours , and will stand up to water and sweat . Related: Is this protein the key to an anti-aging pill? When they experimented with skin water loss, the researchers found that the second skin performed better than moisturizers on the market, keeping in more moisture. They performed multiple studies and none of the experiment participants reacted negatively to the coating. The BBC spoke with Dr. Tamara Griffiths of the British Association of Dermatologists who seemed optimistic about the research . She said , “The results [with the polymer film] appear to be comparable to surgery, without the associated risks. Further research is needed, but this is a novel and very promising approach to a common problem. I will follow its development with interest.” The researchers noted that the second skin may have applications beyond beauty . With more research, the coating could be adapted to transmit medicine or protect wearers from harmful sun rays, or treat conditions such as eczema. What do you think? Is this second skin a medical breakthrough or simply an appeal to our vanity? Via the BBC Images via Melanie Gonick/MIT and Olivo Labs

Comments Off on A lush indoor jungle purifies air and encourages relaxation at Pudong Airport in Shanghai

At this airport, instead of stress, pollution and rushing, you can relax in a nature-filled lounge while breathing fresh, clean air. The new lounge for the Pudong Airport in Shanghai is a jungle-like environment filled with a mix of trees, bushes and flowers. Italian firm Stefano Boeri Architects, the designers behind “the world’s first vertical forest” , envisioned the space as an air-purifying device and a multi-functional area where passengers can relax and spend time while waiting for their flights. The two-part project, named Sky Jungle and Underground Jungle, will be located in two airport terminals. As a space densely populated with vegetation, the design brings nature to the sleek, technology-dominated architecture of airports. Related: Green Walled Skyscraper Complex Makes Waves in Kazahkistan The design is expected to help mitigate congestion and regulate the influx of travelers. It will comprise several distinct spaces such as rest areas, several private rooms, and exhibition spaces . We are looking forward to seeing this project built and seeing photos of the first passengers strolling through this lush indoor jungle. + Stefano Boeri Architects

Comments Off on The InVaso Self-Watering Sponge Pot is Great for Forgetful Gardeners

Even the most dedicated green thumbs may occasionally forget to water their plants. Enter InVaso — a self-watering sponge vase created by industrial designer Stefano Claudio Bison . Made from the same kind of porous sponge that we use to clean our homes, InVaso doesn’t just contain your favorite plant, but also holds water that the plant needs to survive. Read the rest of The InVaso Self-Watering Sponge Pot is Great for Forgetful Gardeners Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: InVaso , InVaso Vase , sponge , sponge vase , Stefano Claudio Bison

Comments Off on A Marathon of Talks About Gardens at Serpentine Gallery

Photo: serpentine gallery Stefano Boeri, Vertical Forest, Milan It’s an orgy, of sorts. Two days straight of talk about gardens from all kinds of architects, landscapers, gardeners,scientists, and philosophers. Held annually for the past 6 years at the Serpentine, it’s particularly fitting this year that the theme should be gardens since it is being held in